Vehicle Description
Get into the Corvette hobby for less than the price of a used Honda
with this brilliant survivor-grade 1980 Corvette coupe. Beautiful
original paint, a beautiful leather interior, and T-tops for the
open air experience make this a great-looking summertime cruiser
that you'll enjoy far more than the bargain price would
suggest.
Yes, the Code 59 Frost Beige paint is original, and it is
remarkably well preserved and looks so good that more than one of
us thought it was a fairly recent repaint. Quite remarkable for a
40-year-old finish, but when you consider the low mileage (only
23,817 miles on the clock!), it certainly makes sense. Sure, there
are some expected signs of use and age, but nothing major by any
means, and the curb appeal is one-of-a-kind. And as you might
expect, the urethane bumpers have been repainted to match the body,
which is incredibly common on these era C3 Corvettes because the
paint faded very quickly on the rubber bookends back-in-the-day.
Although 1980 was nearing the end of the line for the C3, it didn't
diminish the iconic looks one bit, and even today these are perhaps
the most distinctive Corvettes ever built. Everyone loves them, and
when they look this good, falling in love is easy. The hatchback
profile greatly improved Corvette aerodynamics as well as the car's
overall look, and it's enhanced by the slight chin spoiler up
front, the ducktail spoiler out back, and the T-tops up top. All
the trim is in good condition as well, including the blacked-out
rocker panels and front fender louvers that add a bit of contrast
to an otherwise very monochromatic car and the lone Corvette badges
fore and aft that are still great shape as well.
The 23,817 miles shown are believed authentic, although this car
could easily claim half as many miles based on the condition of the
cool Doeskin leather interior. Save for the driver seat cover, the
interior is original, extraordinary for 40 years of entertainment.
With the T-tops off, you'll appreciate the light color, and it
works very well to hide dirt, so it always looks great and has aged
gracefully unlike many of its siblings (I'm looking at you, 1978
Collector's Edition). Corvettes typically came loaded with options,
and this one is no exception, carrying things like power 4-wheel
disc brakes, power steering, power windows, power locks, a
tilt/telescopic wheel, and factory A/C that's been converted to
R134a refrigerant. The original AM/FM/Cassette radio is still in
place and fully operational, the original leather-wrapped steering
wheel still anchors the cabin, and a factory center console houses
a shifter for the automatic transmission below. The dash is
super-clean and shows no fading or cracks, the door panels
practically look new, and the plush carpets below are protected
with matching carpeted mats. Clean as can be and presented just
like it would've been in 1980, this cabin is about as dialed-in as
they come.
The Code H 305 cubic inch under the hood is the original,
numbers-matching engine, and in 1980 it was the motor you got if
you lived in California, which means that's where this car
originally hails from. Factory rated at 180 HP, it's still wearing
a correct Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel under the twin-snorkel air
cleaner, the engine bay is highly original, showing the usual minor
wear and no glaring issues. A recent detail has brightened things
up and you can see many of the original decals and markings are
still in place, while correct blue engine enamel can still be found
on the engine and valve covers. The exhaust system is still
original too, catalytic convertor and all, and the twin pipes out
back bark out a soundtrack that you'll never get tired of hearing.
The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission has crisp shifts and quick
reflexes and the suspension is a good compromise between handling
and comfort, making this Corvette very easy to drive. Four-wheel
discs have been standard equipment since 1965, and the C3s featured
some of the most powerful binders of the era. Machined aluminum
wheels are just the right compliment to the beige paint, and wear
255/60/15 Goodyear Eagle GTII white-letter radials.
Fast, comfortable, and timeless, this is a great entry-level 'Vette
that delivers more than most with an awesome pedigree and survivor
status, all for a bargain price. Call today!